404 March/April 2021 Editor: Dave Ainsworth DAVE STEVENS RIP
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Issue No: 404 March/April 2021 Editor: Dave Ainsworth DAVE STEVENS RIP One of the south's leading lights, for many years, Dave Stevens has sadly left us. Born in 1936 he enjoyed a long and successful time in race walking and was adored by his 2 Clubs: Steyning AC and Stock Exchange AC. Always active, the factual website www.racewalkuk.com records him only winding down around 2015. We can't do better when recording tributes, than to reproduce below an article in this edition which clearly showed what Steyning AC thought of their asset - as indeed he was. Like many in the Stock Exchange, he became involved in their highly active race walking scene. Their flagship event was the London-to-Brighton which commenced in 1903 as 77 crossed the finish line before timekeepers put away watches at 12 hours and 58 minutes. Ten bettered 10 hours with a 1-2-3 of E F Broad, G D Nicolas and legendary Tommy Hammond, clocking 9:30.01, 9:33.52 and 9:35.07 respectively. Messrs Broad and Hammond became founder members of The Centurions when forming in 1911 - the latter achieved Olympian status in London's 1908 Games, coming 6th in the 10 Miles Walk Heat 1 (1:23.44). Dave's debut in this event was as far back as 1957 - yes folks, in the '50s! He continued, so making Stock Exchange AC's list of those completing 10 or more such races. It was a good start as the '57 event saw newcomer Dave finish 3rd in 9:30.02 behind the great Dickie Green (8:54.36) and Bill Lawrence (9:21.01) as 34 started/29 finished. Over the years he twice made the frame with 3rd in 1971 (behind Essex/Southend duo Ken Tuson 1st/Jimmy Venn 2nd) and again in 1974 (behind sub-9 hours duo, John Nye and Ilford's Dave Neagle). Dave adhered to that old show business saying, "Always Leave Them Wanting More" as his last shot on the A23 in 1975 proved his best - as he won in his fastest time of 8:43.13, just ahead of Ilford's Peter Hepworth 8:44.13 and Enfield's Adrian James 9:11.06. Adrian dominated the following 3 years with 8:18.12, 8:36.06 and 8:05.24 victories. Former RWA Southern Area President Dave was well known because he was so active. As well as supporting other Stock Exchange events he wore Steyning Club colours on countless occasions, as he showed up for local races, County Championships, Open races including our popular 7s, classic races and anything else that was going. Race Walking Record issue 709 (November 2001) has a wonderful photograph of a large field on the start line for Steyning AC's 50th Anniversary race, starting/finishing in the Sussex village where their headquarters is situated. Dave is prominent on the front rank. 92 finished the main event (Senior 5 Miles) including 1970 Olympic 50K gold medallist Don Thompson MBE who was 58th in 56.08. The first 10 who all beat 41 minutes were in order: Darrell Stone, Don Bearman, Andrew Goudie, Matthew Hales, Gareth Brown, Noel Carmody, Steve Allen (Ilford version), Sophie Hales, Jo Hesketh and David Ratcliffe. Dave Stevens was 25th in 46.48. Two shorter supporting races saw another 17 over the line on a truly memorable occasion. The Race Walking Association's Centenary publication "A Hundred Years Afoot" (excellently edited by Peter Cassidy with a foreword by Olympian - Her Majesty The Princess Royal) specifically acknowledges Dave's contribution to Veterans/Masters' Athletics Championships on the World and European stages where he was a much travelled and successful regular on the scene. Just some locations where he won individual and team medals included: Strasbourg, Brighton, Melbourne, Verona, Miyazaki, Durban, Gateshead and Auckland. Dave leaves behind so many hard-earned awards which truly reflect his impact on race walking. To his good lady Rose and all other family members we express our profound condolence on the loss of such a popular, well liked and always much respected competitor. Essex Walker issue No 404 (March/April 2021) Steyning Athletic Club - Outstanding Contribution Award to Dave Stevens 2020 The Steyning Athletic Club Annual Awards for 2020 featured a rarely given honour – the ‘Outstanding Contribution to Steyning AC’ award. The winner, Dave Stevens, has given an immense amount of time, effort, racing and passion to SAC over the last 55 years. Dave race walked for Twickenham AC before moving to Steyning in the mid- 60s. From the earliest days of joining the club, Dave immersed himself into club life and was always involved in helping to run the club. This ranged from being on the Committee, to helping to organise events, getting the teas, getting Cups engraved, driving the Race Walking Teams to races and Championships all over the country, to cleaning the Clubhouse. Dave held the position of Club Secretary for a staggering 25 years, and was later made a life member by the membership. Dave has also been a prolific racer and competitor and had a great deal of success during a period when race walking was fiercely competitive and a much more popular sport than it is now. When working at the Stock Exchange (who had quite a few good walkers) Dave won all distances of their championships ranging from 3 kilometres up to the London to Brighton. He also helped Steyning AC to many regional and national titles over many years while racing alongside some of the club’s international elite such as Graham Morris, Tony Geal, Peter Fox and others. Perhaps Dave’s most successful period as an athlete, and one that meant he travelled even more extensively to race, came as he moved up into the Masters/veteran ranks. He won European and World Championship medals, breaking age group records along the way. Dave earned a medal at either 3km and/or 5km at the British Masters championships in all but one year between 2005 and 2015, and competed at European and World championships in the USA, Finland, Italy, France, Hungary, Australia and Brazil among others. His proudest racing achievement are the two World Senior titles for 5km Gold in Melbourne, and 10km Gold in New Zealand, in 2004. His recognition for outstanding contribution is truly deserved. NOTICES ref DAVE STEVENS RIP • From Ron Penfold: “The family of Dave Stevens have decided not to Zoom Dave's funeral but to have a day of celebration later when the situation allows.” • From Alison Buckley: “Thank you everyone for all the lovely comments in Ron’s previous announcement of dad’s passing. As you all know, walking was a huge part of his life and he was lucky enough to continue walking for as long as he did. As Ron said, a celebration of his life will be organised when all the Covid craziness lets us have gatherings again. If anyone would like to donate in dad’s memory to Cancer Research UK, this can be done via Chalcraft Funeral Directors Ltd, 55 High Street, STEYNING, West Sussex. BN44 3RE. Many thanks. Alison, Rose, Paul and Mike BIRTHDAY OCCASION South Ockendon-based Alex Allen, father of Ilford AC Centurion and former Essex County champion Steve, celebrated his 94th birthday in early February. This sprightly veteran still enjoys a recreational walk. Alex race walked in many Post Office-in-Uniform events (London/York/Isle of Essex Walker issue No 404 (March/April 2021) Man), Essex League events and open races. Alex is talented at running also - so much so, he was one of those who could both race walk - and then run - those two 10 kilometres races that formed part of now defunct New Year's Day road meetings, as could son Steve. On the programme a walk came first, then a short interval, then a run. Alex was also a first-class attendant when Steve did "long ones" as he could last an entire racing period without sleep. He helped at various venues including Newmarket's Rowley Mile Racecourse, Lingfield Park Racecourse and Colchester's Lower Castle Park - where Steve qualified as Centurion 1102 in 22:08.57. That was when racing was halted as a marshalling mishap saw competitors sent in the direction of Colchester's Inner By-Pass. A grumbling field was brought back for a restart - so all reaching 100 miles had in fact walked 102 in total. In that race an official appointed to ring the last lap "bell" stepped aside to let Alex ring it as Steve sped past into his final circuit. Yes, sped is the right word as Steve's final 2 circuits of this park were at some pace! Alex's birthday is always something special in the Allen household - when he was 90 he was treated to a family gathering at Butlins Bognor Regis Holiday Camp where Hon Ed once briefly worked in the early '70s, when it still operated as a "Hi-de-Hi/Ho-de-Ho" type establishment. We all wish Alex good health and many "Happy Birthday" celebrations to come PUTTING THE RECORD STRAIGHT A Surrey Walking Club official has made contact to pass comment on our previous edition article about Loughton 2nd claimer, Belgravian and Centurion Paul King - to point out Paul is also a 2nd claim SWC member. We are happy to make this clear. VIRTUAL RACING We won't "steal the thunder" of Race Walking Record and Enfield Walker, both of which published a result, but let it be known January's inaugural Virtual Enfield League race, held over 5 Kilometres was a thumping success with many of our readers helping to make it so.